STEVE COPPELL admits he is having sleepless nights over the prospect of a relegation battle, writes NICK IVE.

The Reading manager has seen his side slump to six consecutive Premier League defeats and slump to within one point of the drop zone.

Should Royals be beaten at Everton on Saturday, they will equal their worst-ever losing run, which came towards the end of the 1997/98 season.

And Coppell conceded: “Does it give me sleepless nights? Of course it does.

“I always think of that Bill Shankly quote, something along the lines of ‘losing is worse than death – because you have to live with losing’.

“This is something you carry around. The only way out of it is to create a better working environment and bring more out of the players.

“If you want to sleep you don’t become a football manager. Your mind is always racing.

“When you are watching a game from the sidelines your mind is racing, thinking what can you do to help. Then you go home and can’t wait to get up so you can watch the tape and see how to put things right.”

Reading’s dire display in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at home to Bolton was greeted with boos at the final whistle, while thousands of other fans had already left the ground.

Coppell added: “The booing was hurtful, I must admit. I heard some comments which I didn’t particularly like but I’m the manager. I’d prefer they are made at me than the players.”

Reading’s survival hopes will rest on their ability to stop shipping goals so easily. They have managed just three clean sheets all season and conceded 52 goals in 25 games.

“We have got a Jekyll and Hyde scenario,” said Coppell. “Some of the performances have been reminiscent of last year and some have been very poor.

“I still feel that the major factor for our season will be our defensive record and how many goals we conccede.

“If any team doesn’t start picking up clean sheets then it is going to be very hard for them to get out of the situation. We have to up our game defensively.

“I don’t just mean the back five, but everyone from the front. It works throughout the team. We have got to improve because silly mistakes are costing us and it can’t continue.”